D.C. Battling Boom in Illegal Work on Homes

[lovuian]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/washpost/20050627/ts_washpost/d_c__battling_boom_in_illegal_work_on_homes

By Yolanda Woodlee, Washington Post Staff Writer
Mon Jun 27, 1:00 AM ET



The District's skyrocketing real estate prices have fueled an increase in illegal construction as property owners across the city are building and renovating homes without obtaining the required permits, according to D.C. officials and a review of city records.

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Using tips largely supplied by neighbors turning in neighbors, the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs issued more than 1,400 stop-work orders for illegal construction during a recent 17-month period and has fined the violators nearly $1 million.


By comparison, Montgomery and Fairfax counties each issue fewer than 50 stop-work orders a year, officials said. Prince George's County officials said they issued about 135 such orders last year.


Many of the District's violators are homeowners building additions because they cannot afford to move to more spacious homes, while others are investors renovating properties in the hopes of selling them at a substantial profit, city officials and community activists say. The number of stop-work orders also reflects an aggressive crackdown by the D.C. regulatory agency, which once had a reputation for slipshod enforcement of building codes.

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this is bad government and bureaucracy and corruption!!!

[VegasWolf]

1. Guess the Republicans are pissed because they can't outsource

these jobs too.

[lovuian]

2. Baaawaaahaaa!!!

:bounce: